◦ Born in Vancouver. Soon moved to a beautiful house in Beach Grove, BC (Tsawassen). ◦ Her father, Paul Odenwald and Mother, Robbin Gabriel, German immigrants raised her and her siblings there for those beginning years. They learned German and music and other things together as a family. ◦ She always spoke very fondly of that blue house. Paul built a second floor and always kept the jazz music going. Her mother tended to everyone while Her and her siblings would go to the Beach and act like the beachcombers on TV. She would tell me about all the treasures she would find along the beach and would show me he favorite treasures later in life, starfish, sand dollars, shells, polished stones... ◦ She also helped raise a family horse, called Sage. A lifelong love for horses was kindled on the nearby field where she would tend to sage with her family’s help. ◦ While the Blue House revealed many lifelong passions, such as family, horses, beachcombing and music, her life’s journey was just beginning and her other passions were pulling at her. ◦ She first found yoga and Eckankar with the help of her mother, Robbin. ◦ She then set about kindling her love for travel. I heard stories of seeing her uncle in mexico and some southern US road trips. ◦ At 18 she went to Germany with nothing but her guitar and fell in love with a Country she had only heard about. She would return many times in her life. ◦ Her goals at 22, according to what she told me, was to go back to finish schooling and to start a family. She knew those were her goals early on. ◦ She set out in a Greyhound to Edmonton on the advice of her friends. ◦ Once there, she met a dark haired French fella at the Eck centre. She needed a ride and he happened to drive a speedy orange camaro. They crossed paths several times after that initial encounter, dined and talked and, in my version here, fell in love. Audrey and Marc’s destiny together was written in the stars. ◦ She must have known because she followed him soon after to St Paul, where Marc’s family was starting the family business. They moved upstairs in an appartement and she fell in love with the other side of her family. She told me of how she immediately felt welcomed by Marc’s family. ◦ In the fall of 1984, Marc and Audrey were married with an Eck service. The next year, matthew was born in St Paul. ◦ She also completed studies in Early Childhood development during this initial time in Alberta. ◦ Soon, however, she wanted to return to BC to reconnect with her childhood home. Her young family moved to Port Moody and then to White Rock. Roger came along in 1988, born in Burnaby. ◦ Audrey shared her love for the beach and the ocean with her family while they were there. ◦ In 1992, they headed back to Alberta as Matthew was starting school and she and Marc wished to have more French language education. They rejoined the Letourneaus there and helped with the family business. ◦ She helped raise her boys, matthew and roger, and got involved in all manner of activities that filled their family life to the brim. There was music, art, soccer, tennis, camping, swimming, biking, creative writing, songwriting, cooking and so much more. What some might not know is hat she always was learning and pushing to be certified in her oursuits. She became a lifeguard with certification, a tennis coach, a guitar and piano teacher, a German teacher and others. ◦ She loved to sit with you, smile and patiently teach or learn together in humble and kind collaboration. ◦ Every day she would take time to create or practice her creative pursuits. While humble, kind and creative, she was disciplined in maximizing and sharing this passion for creation. ◦ I know many of you will recognize what I mean. She may have painted with you, sung with you or for you, handed you a percussion instrument, made you playdough, walked in nature, road a horse, played tennis or soccer, maybe she made a cup of tea and talked, or offered some apple crisp from apples she picked, she may have taken a course or attended a music course, maybe you shared a family dinner or a fancy dinner, perhaps ot was just a quiet moment where she looked at you and smiled. ◦ In these moments, all of us have seen an example of true beauty, of pure unconditional love, of humble kindness, of creative energy and mercy, whether we know it or not, Audrey helped reflect that same love that exists in us, back to us.

by Roger Letourneau

Audrey was born in Vancouver General Hospital to loving parents, Paul and Clare Odenwald, October 5, 1960. Her brother Dirk was born June 3rd, 1959, just a year earlier. Moving to Tsawwassen to raise their family, Paul transformed a one room shack into the 5 bedroom childhood home, just a block from the beach.  Audrey became big sister to Monica in '65 and then the twins Barbara and Karen, in '70. 
Audrey went to school at Beach Grove Elementary after Kindergarten in Boundary Bay. Surrounded by a private golf course, a school, farm fields and a long stretch of beach, Audrey spent up unto her teens in the protected, quaint and colourful suburb of Beach Grove. She loved her Raggedy Ann doll, riding her bike, salt and vinegar chips and her horse, Sage. Audrey was a model big sister her whole life. Her first job was a paper route and then she had many more jobs until she graduated in '77 from Tsawwassen Senior Secondary. 
Audrey later moved to Edmonton to further her career in Early Childhood Education in 1984. There she worked at a daycare and met Marc Letourneau, who she devoted her loving world to for over 37 years. Marc and Audrey lived mostly in St. Paul, where they raised Matthew, born February 28, '86 and Roger, June 22, '88 in their home above the family masonry business, the fireplace shop. Audrey also worked in many daycares and early childhood education settings in St. Paul, and then went on to study Nursing after they moved to Edmonton in the early 2000's. Audrey continued to work one-on-one with special needs kids in the classroom and formal school setting until her passing. Her selfless devoted caring for these children over the years was transformative.
Audrey was known to everyone as a sweet, no-stress person, and was like an angel or the glue to everyone in our Odenwald family. She always remembered birthdays and visited family each year, cherishing her nieces and nephews on all sides of her family. Together with Marc she was known in private circles as a devoted Eckist, belonging to Eckankar since her early 20's.  If you knew Audrey or are a part of her family and want to share a memory, please share your tribute or stories or photos. Thank you!